D: What would you like to know about this game?
G:
Everything.
D: Great. First thing to know is, this game is one that is primarily played in the context of comedy improv, that is, theatrical
improvisation.
G: No!
D: Oh yes!
G: So how do you play?
D: You present a
scene in which the last letter of the last word of one actor's line of
dialogue becomes the first letter of the first word of the next
actor's line.
Hence the name, "last letter, first lette
r."
G:
Right. So if I'm an improviser, and I end a sentence with a hilarious word like "
proctologist," which ends in a "t," you have to start your next
sentence with the letter "
t"?
D:
That's i
t.
G:
This game sounds simple enough. Is it hard to pla
y?
D:
Yes, it can be. It requires good
listening skills (and as such, is an excellent training game) but
focusing too much on playing the game correctly can
sap a scene of any
vitality. Three minutes of
non-sequiturs might fulfill the rules of the game but it won't make for a very interesting scen
e.
G:
Elephants ate my
pajamas!
D:
See what I mea
n?
G: "
Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country!"
D:
You can stop no
w.
G:
Where did this game come fro
m?
D:
Maybe from
Spolin. Possibly from
Johnstone. Improv
troupes from both philosophies of improvisation have been known to include it in their
repertoire.
G:
Er, what happens if you're a bad
speller, and don't know the last letter of a word like "repertoir
e?"
D: ...
G: why aren't you-- oh, I see. You could keep quiet and let the previous
speaker continue...
D: ...
G: as technically, they're not bound by the rule, until they finally end a sentence with a word you are
familiar wit
h.
D:
Ha! You've got i
t!
G:
Thanks. One more question: are there any other contexts in which this game might be usefu
l?
D:
Learning a new
language-- this game can be used to review
vocabulary, although you might want to limit it to just words, instead of full sentences. And as I said before, it's a useful
exercise for practicing listening skills.